Fashion Weekly Article November 29, 2017 12:49

Ruth Tate breaks the rules with chic fashion label

We're obsessed with Adevee Fashion, the online shopping boutique that is home to an array of designers who make clothes for curve and inbetweenie men and women. They are quickly proving to be the ultimate clothing, accessories and footwear destination as they bidge the gab between quality and consistent sizes.

Just in time for the summer season, we sat down with fashion designer Ruth Tate, from her label Ruth Tate, an Australian-made, ethical fashion label, to talk body confidence and why she's excited to align her brand with Adevee Fashion.

Read her exclusive interview with Fashion Weekly below.

Tell us about the epiphany moment when you decided to follow your dreams and create ‘Ruth Tate’?

RT:I learnt how to sew when I was 9 years old, after that I was given a Barbie doll. We were living on a small island in the West Indies and there were no shops selling Barbie clothes, so I learned to sew to be able to change her outfits. I've been designing for as long as I can remember; always drawing or sketching outfits. I set up the brand in 2005 when a friend asked if I would make some clothes to hang in an interiors shop. It had beautiful mid-century furniture and hand painted wall papers, gorgeous lamps and more. I made a few denim skirts trimmed with Parsi braid and wrap punched suede skirts and a selection of tops.

How would you describe your label’s aesthetic?

RT: The Ruth Tate aesthetic is stylish, wearable clothes, beautifully made in gorgeous fabrics. Everything can be ordered in a standard size or custom made for the perfect fit. Classics with a twist.

Which style seems to be the cult classic that your customers can’t get enough of season after season?

RT: Bias cut dresses are a winner, they skim the body without fitting tightly and have a relaxed elegance. Fabrics look fabulous cut on the bias too.

Since starting your label, you’ve been passionate about style versus fashion and you’ve encouraged your customers to discover their own personal style.’ Why is this important to you?

RT: Style is more about what looks good on you and what suits your body shape, fashion is wearing the trends whether they suit your style or not. There is nothing more beautiful than a woman comfortable in her body and feeling good in what she wears.

‘Ruth Tate’ is now stocked on Adevee Fashion’s eBoutique. Why is this an exciting alignment for your label?

RT: Adevee has a good collection of interesting designers with a range of prices.

You've been designing since 2005, does it surprise you that curve and inbetween fashion isn’t yet mainstream?

RT: I've been designing my label since 2005 but qualified as a designer (BA Honours) in 1988, almost 30 years! Larger sizes had been covered by a very few labels in the past but it's becoming more widely available as bigger women demand more stylish clothing. Plus-sizes are becoming more mainstream with more labels coming into the market. Traditionally [in past] labels only offered 8-16.

What’s been the most memorable moment of your label’s journey so far?

RT: I was at a meeting and sat behind a lady with the most beautiful duck egg blue hat with pheasant feathers. She was a milliner, Catherine Kelly of Embellish Atelier, the start of a great collaboration. My clothes are now stocked in her beautiful shop in Rozelle.

If there was one thing you could change about the mainstream fashion industry, what would it be?

RT: The waste of people buying cheap clothes every season. It would be much better to buy quality clothing that is going to last longer and be in their wardrobes for a few years. I would love to have more quality production done in Australia too. All my production is done in Australia.

In your own words, why should our readers start shopping on Adevee’s e-Boutique?

RT: Adevee is an online boutique which offers stylish fashion for women who are cool and curvaceous, a lot of the labels offer sizes 12-22. The selection of designers is a considered choice of beautiful clothes from casual to corporate and dressier styles for special events.

What's next for ‘Ruth Tate’?

RT: I am working on winter at the moment and have sourced some fabulous fabrics, copper, bronze and slate leathers, highlights of mustard and winter cream as well as luxurious tweeds and wool jersey.